State lauds Thompson, Caldwell for Emory Valley Center efforts

Friday

Dec 28, 2012 at 4:29 PMDec 28, 2012 at 4:31 PM

Tennessee government officials recently presented area residents Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell with state proclamations thanking them for their work to raise money to build a new Emory Valley Center facility in Oak Ridge.But Thompson said the honor is not only theirs.

by Donna Smith/Staff

Tennessee government officials recently presented area residents Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell with state proclamations thanking them for their work to raise money to build a new Emory Valley Center facility in Oak Ridge.

But Thompson said the honor is not only theirs.

Speaking to a crowd of people — employees, volunteers, donors and clients — at the Emory Valley Center, Thompson recently remarked: “Everybody in here has supported us; every single person, I could go through and call (out).

“It’s lonely at the top if you don’t have all this support,” Thompson assured.

Jim Henry of Kingston, a former legislator now working as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Development Disabilities, was tapped to present the proclamations to the dynamic duo, but instead was sidelined by the flu. In Henry’s absence, Robin Biloski, EVC development director and self-proclaimed “party girl” for the morning reception, introduced Missy Marshall, the state department’s public affairs director, who presented the awards on behalf of Henry, Gov. Bill Haslam and the Volunteer State.

Marshall said Henry is a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, as well as being a parent of a special needs adult.

Currently, Marshall said, there are 7,200 people on waiting lists in Tennessee for the type of services provided by the local Emory Valley Center. Henry and those involved with these clients are working to do all they can.

“He (Henry) says there will never ever be enough money (to help them enough),” Marshall said.

For those involved with the intellectually and developmentally disabled, Marshall said, “It’s a passion, not just a paycheck.”

Thompson later introduced her daughter, an Emory Valley Center client, as her own personal “passion.” The feeling appeared mutual as her daughter proclaimed to the crowd during the proclamation presentation earlier: “That’s my Mommy!”

Caldwell pointed out that Gov. Haslam and other government officials, such as state Sen. Randy McNally and state Rep. John Ragan, both of Oak RIdge and both in attendance at the EVC reception, had supported them previously with $500,000.

They and other officials recommended Emory Valley Center for a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, which the Center won.

The Emory Valley Center’s clients presented Marshall with a get-well card they made for Jim Henry.

Additional funding is still needed to replace the current Emory Valley Center space now provided in a facility that will soon be demolished. Much of the EVC’s operation is housed in a portion of the old Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, which is owned by Anderson County and scheduled to be razed.

The Emory Valley Center owns land adjacent to its existing facility on Emory Valley Road and EVC intends to use that land for a building to replace space that will soon be lost.

Anyone wishing to donate to the EVC Capital Campaign can mail a contribution to P.O. Box 5328, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, or go online to www.emoryvalleycenter.com for more information.